Lakers News: Patriotic Former LeBron James, Kobe Bryant Sneaker Returning to Market

Mar 10, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) guards Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) on the court in the first half of the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Two superstar Los Angeles Lakers champions, 18-time All-Star shooting guard Kobe Bryant and 21-time All-Star combo forward LeBron James, are slated to have some of their classic, game-worn Adidas footwear get reintroduced to the market next summer, per WWD.com.

Bryant initially wore the Adidas Crazy 2 USA sneakers, decked out in red-white-and-blue coloring, in L.A.'s 2001-02 season opener, paying tribute to the victims of the airplane crashes on September 11, 2001, which at that point had happened just a few months before.

The Lakers' year kicked off on Oct. 30, 2001, at home against the Portland Trail Blazers. L.A. would go on to win its third straight championship, thanks largely to the efforts of Shaquille O'Neal and Bryant, that season.

More news: Insider Reveals Why LeBron James 'All But Certain' to Finish Career As NBA GOAT

James, at the time a high school junior at St. Vincent-St. Mary, also wore the limited-release shoes during a Feb. 10, 2002 high school clash with another future Hall of Famer and Lakers forward, then-Oak Hill Academy senior Carmelo Anthony, in 2002. Anthony's Oak Hill team won, 72-66.

It was the final shoe he released for Adidas before jumping ship to Nike. After Bryant left, the sneaker was re-dubbed as the Crazy 2. James' footwear has exclusively been Nike throughout his soon-to-be-23-year NBA career.

When Will the Adidas Crazy 2 USA Be Back?

Per WWD.com, the Adidas Crazy 2 USA will be back on the block in June 2026. The sneaker is expected to fetch $160 on Adidas' website and third-party retailers.

More news: Luka Doncic Nominated for Defensive Award as Body Transformation Pays Instant Dividends

Bryant, who passed away in a helicopter accident at age 41 in 2020, won five titles with L.A. across a 20-year career.

The 6-foot-7 swingman spent all 20 of his Hall of Fame seasons with the Lakers, retiring with career earnings of $323,312,307 and career averages of 25.0 points on .447/.329/.837 shooting splits, 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.5 blocks a night. He was a 15-time All-NBA honoree, a 12-time All-Defensive Teamer, the 2008 league MVP and a two-time Finals MVP in 2009 and '10.

Los Angeles has already erected two statues outside of Crypto.com Arena in Bryant's honor, with a third impending.

James first signed on to lead the Lakers in 2018, two years after Bryant's retirement. Alongside All-Star then-teammate Anthony Davis, James guided L.A. to the franchise's 17th championship in 2020 as its best player. He has been named to seven All-Star and All-NBA teams and has led the Lakers to two Western Conference Finals since joining the team.

For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.